Ron Howard Confirms New Characters for Season Four of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT on Netflix [Update: MAD MEN’s John Slattery Joins the Show in a Mystery Role]

Now that we know the Netflix-backed Arrested Development project is not just a trick (illusion, illusion!) but actually confirmed, there are finally a few answers to the question of what we can expect from it. According to Ron Howard, who acts as the show’s narrator, the new season will include some new characters.

There’s been plenty of hype building up thanks to the show’s stars keeping fans on the hook with photos from the set, including Tobias (David Cross) in a sheet and George Michael (Michael Cera) on a segway. And despite what Howard called a “hell of a hiatus,” he has also reassured fans that the show’s quality is still top-notch (as if those photos suggested anything otherwise). For more on what Howard said of the upcoming season, hit the jump.

The details of the new characters are unknown, but wary fans should feel somewhat placated as Howard explains to THR, though our favorites may all be returning, series creator Mitch Hurwitz isn’t just trying to pick up just where things left off:

“It’s been away for a while, and part of the fun that Mitch has been mining and exploiting is, what’s new to discover about these people? What’s delightfully unchanged? He and the writing staff and the actors have a fantastic sense of that. They’re pretty brazen, pretty bold and fearless. That’s what made the show into something that fans really kept alive.”

He went on to say that the people involved with Arrested Development are:

“in great form and dying to take the characters further. It’s cool and bold and funny, and out there taking chances, just like it always did.”

[Update: Dave here. Looks like one of the new roles will be filled by John Slattery (Mad Men), although there is no news yet as to who his character will be. Slattery looks to be on board for multiple episodes. Thanks to TV Line for the heads up!]